title: [Sports and recreational activities as a form of functional treatment of patients with ankylosing spondilytis].
abstract: Ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic inflammatory rheumatic disease that primarily affects the sacroiliac joints and spine, although it may involve entheses, peripheral joints and extraarticular organs. Disease treatment is directed toward the suppression of the inflammatory process and the improvement of the musculoskeletal system function. There are several treatment modalities: education of the patient and members of the family, pharmacological treatment, physical therapy and, in some cases, surgical treatment. An important segment of various modalities of physical therapy belongs to kinesitherapy, sports and recreation whose duration and intensity largely depends not only on the actual functional impairments, but also on the presence of some other disease or contraindications. Kinesitherapy is directed toward maintenance and improvement of the function of the spine, thoracic cavity and large synovial joints as well as the prevention of deformities or contractures. Kinesitherapy and sports programmes may involve individual or group approach. Patients are encouraged to participate in sports activities that may imitate or substitute specific forms of exercises.
authors.affiliation: Klinika za reumatologiju, fizikalnu medicinu i rehabilitaciju, Medicinskifakultet Sveudilifta u Zagrebu, Referentni centar za upalne reumatske bolesti, Klinic'ka bolnica Sestre milosrdnice, Zagreb, Hrvatska. frane.grubisic@zg.htnet.hr
authors.forename: Frane
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Grubisić
authors.forename: Simeon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Grazio
authors.forename: Matea
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Znika
mesh_terms: D005081:Exercise Therapy; D006801:Humans; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D013177:Sports